Rau to have final word on footbridge

The final decision on the River Torrens footbridge has moved out of the hands of Parliament and into those of Planning Minister John Rau.

The footbridge will bypass normal approval processes after Mr Rau referred the project to the Development Assessment Commission (DAC) for consideration.

The Legislative Council effectively blocked the project last year when it voted to disallow a regulation allowing construction to proceed.

It is not the first time the Government has referred a decision on the Adelaide Oval redevelopment to the DAC after concerns it could be blocked.

The Government successfully challenged a city council ruling to keep 27 century-old cedar trees along the ground's north-eastern edge.

The cedars were cut down three weeks ago.

Mr Rau says he will make final decision on the bridge project after March 20.

"I have initiated a planning process called a Development Plan Amendment to make possible the formal approval process for the bridge construction," he said.

"That process involves a statutory consultation period which now begins.

"That timeline will still be consistent with an opportunity for the project to proceed.

"According to the legislation we are now working with, I am a decision maker. I have a process to go through before I make a decision, so all I'm doing is complying with the law and I will comply with the law."

Urban Development Minister Tom Koutsantonis says he wants the bridge to be ready in time for the Second Ashes Test in December.

"We haven't awarded the tender as yet, designs are finalised, the budget is in place, we're ready to go," he said.

But Mr Rau says he cannot guarantee the bridge will go ahead.

"As Planning Minister all I can guarantee is I will make sure that that statutory planning process runs according to the timeline that I've set and I will make a very quick decision after that statutory consultation has occurred," he said.

"I can't pre-empt what that decision would be because I haven't been through that process I haven't received my advice but I won't be allowing this thing to be delayed on my account."

The State Opposition says the Government has blocked public feedback on the footbridge project.

Opposition transport spokesman Vickie Chapman says the decision to refer it to the DAC will prevent people registering possible objections with the Adelaide City Council.

"It's another example of Minister Rau circumventing the normal process for people to have a say. Just another example of crushing the voice of the people," she said.

Adelaide City Councillor David Plumridge says the Government's decision has not affected the council's position.

"We've been involved in the design process, we've made our views known to the Government and last time I saw they were adopting the views that we were putting forward so we were supportive of the bridge," he said.

"The bridge will help to immediately access the railway station and all the transport on North Terrace and Currie Street and it's important I think to have that idea in place right from the start."